The Buccaneer

Yeah, so this is the latest thing I've written, it's entitled The Buccaneer because I'm studying for my Grade 6 Piano and one of my pieces is 'The Buccaneer' by Arnold. And it's kick ass :P

So yeah, here it is! (I can't be bothered with spacing, so you'll just have to deal with it :P)

The air was filled with screams and the unmistakable stench of death. Amy had hidden behind some crates below the deck of The Rising Sun, but she knew her time was running out. Her family were probably captured by now and there was nothing she could do to help. She whispered to herself, praying that they could be saved and yet the screams never faltered. She looked up startled as she heard crashes at the other end of the room, she knew it was the end, she knew that it was now that she was going to die. The men were throwing the crates her father was transporting about the cargo-hold, searching undoubtedly for her. She hardly dared to breathe as their footsteps moved closer and had to clasp both hands to her mouth to keep from screaming. She closed her eyes as the crates that had been her hiding place were thrown aside and the men roughly grabbed her by the arms and began to drag her back up on to the deck. Amy struggled, even though she knew it was futile, what chance did she have against a group of three grown men? She tried to wriggle out of their grasp but one of the men punched her in the gut, pushing the air from her lungs and she stopped fighting.
The smell of salt burned her nose as they reached the deck, all the screaming had stopped and as Amy looked around she gasped as she saw each lifeless body adorning the ships deck. Blood pooled all around staining the wood, making it look like a battlefield. Tears leaked from Amy's eyes as she saw the cook, her dearest friend lying motionless on her back. No where around had she seen her family, which she supposed she was thankful for, but these people were her family, she had grown up on this ship surrounded by all these wonderful people. And now they were gone.
The men led her to the bulwarks around the perimeter of the boat to where Amy could now see her family crying in grief over their lost crew. She tried to run to them but her entourage refused to let go of her. She glared at the man on his right, but he just winked at her. The other man, walking behind her pushed her roughly forwards, making her stumble and fall onto the deck. The blood of her crew soaked into her dress and a few more tears tumbled down her cheeks. She quickly stood, trying to muster all the propriety of the daughter of a Duke and turned to face the invading crew's captain. In the darkness she couldn't really see him, just a silhouette standing before her, his hand holding his sword loosely in his right hand, liquid dripping off of the end.
"Are you too cowardly to show us your face?" Amy asked coldly, sounding much more brave than she felt, she just hoped she hadn't just sealed her fate. Before she realised what had happened, the Captain was in front of her face, a dim glow showing his face and she gasped. The man before her was so encased in dirt he was hardly recognisable as a human being, a thick beard only disguising any humanity further.
"I'd rather not be called a coward by somone who is weak enough to be crying," he spat at her, more tears escaped her eyes and the Captain visibly rolled his dark green eyes at her and stepped back again.
"Now," he began, "you have enough cargo on this ship to make me a very rich man, so; I am having my men load all the crates from below on to our ship. How well you behave until this is complete decides your fate. However, one of you has had your fate already sealed. You, you had the nerve to stab my second in command, and for that you shall die."
"NO! Not here, please! I beg you, don't do this in front of my daughters." Tears spilled out of her eyes at her Fathers pleas though even she knew they were futile. The Captain dragged her father in front of Amy, her mother, brother and sister who were all sobbing uncontrollably. Amy couldn't take her eyes off of the site of the Captain raising his sword and swinging it forward, cutting off her fathers head. She winced as his head hit the ground, his body slumping moments later. Amy closed her eyes and tried to block out the image she knew would be behind her eyelids forever more. Her sister Katherine was sobbing loudly along the row of them and the Captain glared at her and called to one of his men,
"This one seems to be a little emotional, have your way with her in any way you please and make sure to finish the job." The man nodded greedily and rushed forward to claim Kat, her mother screamed in protest and her brother threatened to kill him if he laid a finger on her but he lazily took his gun out of his belt and shot the both of them, the bangs silenced their protests.
Amy was frozen, her family was gone, she had no one left. But why was she still breathing? What was he going to do to her? The Captain walked towards her again and looked her over. Amy didn't like how he was looking at her, as if she were a piece of meat that he couldn't decide how well to cook it.
"And you, you get the pleasure of living having seen what you have seen. You get to become my...entertainer of sorts," he rubbed a hand down the side of her cheek, scratching her with his well-calloused hands. She winced away but he just patted her roughly and walked away. "Bring her to the ship," he called over to his men, and as an afterthought he added, "and don't touch my property."
As she was being dragged off to the Captains ship, all Amy could think of was how she was being forced to live with the man who had taken everything from her. How long was she going to survive?

Captain Nathaniel Harrison of the ship The Blue Moon was revelling in the success of the previous days plunder. Why, after they'd sold that cargo they could go back to land for the winter and live as the rich gentleman they all wished to be. his first mate was thankfully doing well, the stab wound would heal in a matter of days, he was sat on a crate near where Nathaniel was steering.
"You know Jacob, Marie told you you should be in your quarters and you know how she gets," Nathaniel pointed out, looking pointedly behind Jacob. Jacob was Nathaniels oldest friends and the two had begun the crew of the Blue Moon together. Nathaniel had insisted that Jacob was to be the Captain, but the other had given the post to Nathaniel claiming he had no wish for power.
Jacob jumped up and looked behind him with a worried expression on his face,
"Is she around? She'd have my guts for garters if she knew I was out of bed!" Nathaniel chuckled and said,
"Relax Jake, she's in the kitchens. So we comondeer one of the most feared ships on the Ocean and you're afraid of the cook?" Nathaniel knew that Marie was a woman to be feared, she acted as the ships mother figure. When a lot of men spend all their time together there are bound to be arguments that only a womans touch could resolve. Nathaniel also knew of the torch Jacob held for Marie, you only had to spend a moment in the same room as the two of them to know that there was attraction there. Nathaniel hoped they would hurry up and get together already, both being of a ripe age to marry. Marie was young at four and twenty and Jacob was eight and twenty. The whole crew knew it was only a matter of time and when that time came, none of them would be surprised.
"I'll have you know that that woman is very very scary, she could reduce the King of England to a quivering wreck,"
"Aye that's true," Nathaniel agreed, "what she needs is a good man to tie her down somewhere for a while, Marie needs a good seeing to," he added smiling suggestively at Jacob, cocking an eyebrow. Jacob blushed scarlet and turned away from Nathaniel,
"Nat, that's not funny. And keep your voice down, someone might hear you,"
"Jake, everyone already knows, except for Marie. So could you put everyone out of their misery and tell her how you feel already?" Jake paled and looked scared,
"She wouldn't feel the same way, no one like that could love me." Jake stood and walked down to the deck, heading to his quarters so as to avoid the wrath of his love. Unfortunately for Nathaniel, he knew Marie had a special place in her heart purely for Jake, but he was having little success with convincing her to tell him either.
Nat sighed and turned his thoughts to his latest aquisition; the girl. He supposed he ought to go and talk to her. Nat ran a hand through his hair and scrunched his nose and his fingers caught in the knots. 'Well,' he thought, 'at least I'm not vain enough to care'. He then called to Harry, one of the crew, and asked him to take over steering. Nat was going to meet his entertainer.
When Amy woke the next morning she could dimly remember the horrors of the night before, her head felt fuzzy as if most of her brain had been removed. She sat and thought for a few moments, she knw she was on the ship of the pirate that killed her family yet she couldn't remember any details. She couldn't remember how her parents died. She sniffed and shifted her weight, uncomfortable showing emotions on this alien ship, even though no one was around. She was startled by the softness of her surroundings, laying in an ornate wooden bed with deep red duvet and curtains. This surely couldn't just be the accomodation for guests? Though Amy wouldn't class herself as a guest on this boat, more of a prisoner. But, she supposed she had been invited aboard even though she really had not given consent. Amy had thought that she would be in some kind of holding cell below deck.
She stretched, forcing her stomach skywards until she heard her spine crack then flopped back onto the mattress sighing loudly.
"I hope you approve of your living arrangements," Amy bolted into a sitting position when the voice disurbed her relaxation. Sure enough it was the Captain from the night before looking as inhuman as before. She tried to look into his face to see behind the matted hair covering his head and face but could only see his dark green eyes looking mockingly at her. Amy frowned and asked,
"How might I help you Sir?" The Captain looked amused for a moment and strode towards the bed Amy was sat upon.
"Do you know why you are here girl?" The Captain asked sneering at her. Amy recoiled further back towards the headboard, unsure as to what he meant. Surely she was just a prisoner? She shook her head, knowing that no words were forming in her mind. He rolled those emerald green eyes at her and scooted down the bed until she had been cornered. The Captain grinned wickedly and Amy whined slightly in fear.
"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," Amy said, again managing to sound more brave than she actually was. The Captains grin deepened as he moved towards her throat, Amy wondered what he planned on doing once he got there, because it is merely flesh is it not? The Captain pressed a firm kiss just below her ear smiling against it as Amy shuddered slightly.
"And now, everyone will know that you are my property," he whispered in her ear. Amy was silenced, she just nodded absent-mindedly, her flesh was on fire with a mixture of surprise and anger. I am HIS property? She thought.
"And what do you mean by property?" Amy whispered sure he wouldn't actually hear her. The Captain drew back and regarded her whilst reclining on his elbows,
"Mine to do with what I wish. I assume you know what I mean by that," he raised an eyebrow mockingly and Amy's cheeks flushed...surely not?
"NO," Amy snapped and the Captains face looked shocked for a moment, "I am the daughter of a Duke and I shall not allow you to take my purity from me." With every word she spoke she sounded more and more sure of herself and Nathaniel was taken aback. He was sure that she would just fall at his feet and allow him to have his way..yet she was putting up a fight.
"Sadly, that is indeed what I shall do. I and believe you would live much more comfortably on my ship if you did not shout at me. After all I am giving you my quarters and feeding you." Amy frowned, his quarters?
"But where shall you sleep?" Even though this man was dreadful she didn't like the idea that he would have no where to sleep because of her.
"Why, is that sympathy Miss Fisher? Why then, I think you should find my arrangements quite agreeable then," he winked at her and Amy tilted her head in confusion. Nathaniel laughed, this was going to be more fun than he had ever thought. "Because I'm sleeping here." The look of confusion increased and Nat had to try very hard not to laugh. He knew that sooner or later it was going to hit home.
"But," she began, "I'm staying here...and for you to also stay here...that would mean that...NO! Are you kidding me? I not only have to be your concubine I also have to sleep WITH you. No. No, no, no no NO! I won't!" Amy jumped off the bed and stormed through the door. Nathaniel was dumbstruck, this one has fire he thought.
What could he be thinking? Amy wondered as she stormed to the deck. She wanted to know why he was doing this to her, what she had done to him to deserve this but she just wanted out. She wanted to get off this boat even if it meant she didn't survive to tell the tale. When she reached the deck the rain hit her like a cold flannel. She shivered slightly and marched towards the railing. Luckily few people were around and those who were there just stared at the girl slowly climbing up onto the railing, holding onto some nearby rope for support. They would have helped, but the Captain had instructed none of them to touch her and they didn't want to disobey him.
"So terrorised the poor girl enough for one day?" Jake asked as he ambled into Nats chamber to find him laying on his bed. Nat grinned and replied,
"That girl has fire. She stormed out moments ago because I told her we were to share a bed." Jacob chuckled and said,
"I haven't seen you laugh like that since..." he looked apologetically at Nat, who shook it off replying,
"Don't say that name, the girl amuses me, that is all. Once I've had my way the others can have her." Jacob looked concerned and winced slightly at his words,
"Why do you keep doing this, what do you really gain from it all? You make them fall in love with you, do what you please and then break their hearts. Well, when I say it it makes perfect sense. Nathaniel you can't punish them all for what happened, not all women are the same. Most of the women you bring on the ship would stand by you forever if you asked them. Please I beg you, don't continue.."
"I think I can live my own life don't you? And I think I'll take my relationship advice from someone who can at least attempt to get who he wants," Nat snapped. He didn't need Jacob bringing up his past when it was all he could do to keep it surpressed. He looked at his friend and his face softened when he realised he had upset him. "Jake, I'm sorry.." Jake held up a hand and smiled,
"I'm sorry too, I shouldn't give my opinion where it is neither needed nor wanted."
They were interrupted by a cabin boy running into the room.
"Captain!" He shouted breathlessly, obviously having run from the deck.
"What is it Harry?" Nat asked. The boy blushed and looked at his feet,
"Your girl," Nats ears pricked up immediately, what had she done? "She tried to throw herself off of the ship, but got her foot caught in the rigging...she's sort of hanging upside down...and some of the crew are finding it very..." Nats blood boiled, he could bet what they found it. Yet none of them helped her! He sprinted out of the cabin and towards the deck. He made a beeline for the crowd of jeering men and snarled, the men heard it and backed off looking sheepish. Nat looked over the edge of the ship and saw Miss Fisher, well, beneath Miss Fishers dress. Nat grinned slightly in spite of himself, but Jacob nudged him to remind him where he was. Nat quickly hoisted himself over the edge of the ship and grabbed the rigging that Amy was dangling from. He climbed down a little way until he was level with her eyes.
Amy was surprised when she saw the Captain but she would have rather that the whole crew hadn't seen her undergarments. Why did things always end badly for her?
"I'm going to have to touch you," he said before adding, "and you ought to get used to it," grinning mischeiviously. Amy rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Yes Captain, but could you hurry? I am slightly wet," Nathaniel positioned himself below her head and raised it, climbing up the rigging so Amy was flung over his shoulder, he untangled her foot and climbed up and onto the ships deck. Without saying anything to the other crew members he strode to his cabin and placed her in his bed. Marie had bustled in wanting to see how the girl was and gasped at the sight of her pale, wet form.
"Nathaniel, I'm going to have to remove her wet clothes, I don't suppose you have any womens clothes still?" The hairs on the back of Nat's neck stood on end, in his minds eye he saw an image of her, looking lovely as always and his heart beated faster just as he thought of her.
"Captain?" Marie asked, Nat shook his head, extinguishing the image from his mind; she was long gone now and he had to learn to deal with it. He crouched and reached beneath the bed, pulling out the large wooden box beneath. His eyes glazed over by his command so that he didn't have to look at the contents of her possessions until he felt the soft fabrics of her garments. He held them out to Marie who took them hastily and turned to Amy. Nat watched as she faltered and frowned in confusion. Marie rounded on him,
"Nathaniel Harrison, think of your manners! Turn around to give this poor girl some dignity." Nat winced and did as she asked. Despite the fact that she was four years younger than him, he knew he should do as she asked; otherwise his meals would be just a touch too salty for a few weeks.